Unit 2 Materials and Components - Modern materials and products Flashcards
What are thermo-ceramics?
advanced ceramic materials that have characteristics that make them useful in specialist engineering
What are the applications for thermo-ceramics?
jet engines
turbine blades
turbo chargers in cars
What are the advantages of thermo-ceramics?
- good in high temperatures
- good stability
- strength
What are the disadvantages of thermo-ceramics?
brittle
can crack or break
What is photochromic glass?
glass that automatically gets darker in ultraviolet light
How is photochromic glass made?
impregnated with the chemical silver halide and encapsulated and sealed within the glass to make it reversible
What are solar panels?
photovoltaic or solar cells that can generate electricity
How are solar panels constructed?
Thin layers of silicon that have had various impurities added.
How do solar panels work?
Cells are exposed to sunlight
one layer becomes electron rich, another becomes electron deficient
electron flow is set up between the two layers creating a voltage
What are the advantages of solar panels?
renewable energy source
What are the disadvantages of solar panels?
Only a low electrical voltage created so large numbers of cells needed
cost of manufacture and installation is high